Receptacle for valuables



Jn. 28, V1964 M. KAMlNsKY 3,119,248.

RECEPTACLE FOR vALUABLEs Filed March 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Janf28,1964 M. KAMlNsKY 3,119,248

RECEPTACLE FOR VALUABLES Filed March 16, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 MEYERKAMINSKY INVENTOR United States Patent Oiice 3,ll9,248 Patented Jan. 28,1964 Meyer This invention relates to a receptacle for receiving andholding valuables and provides means, including a timing device, toractivating a lock mechanism to render the door of the receptacleopenable. The invention further provides a secondary release rnechanisfmfor rendering the door openable `from outside the receptacle in theevent of mechanical failure of the timing device.

This application is a. continuation-in-part of application bearingSerial No. 799,256, filed March 13, 1959, now abandoned.

The invention has `among its objects the provision of such a receptaclewhich can be used 4as a safe, can function as -a component of otherdevices, such as a cash register, land in general, has utility in -anysituation in which it is desired to confine valuables `.for a definitelength of time at the end of which time the receptacle is automaticallyrendered loapenable. Other objects will be apparent from the descriptionof the invention.

In general, accord-ing to the invention, the receptacle for holdingvalfnables comprises a sealed compartment having walls and having anopenable door lwith a free, lateral end, a timing device carrying aresilient lever arm, preferably constructed of resilient metal, andbeing adapted to be preset to a specic time to cause the lever arm tooscillate at the preset time, md a lock mechanism capable of being setin a condition whereby the door is locked `and comprising a slidablebolt the forw-ard end of which is projectable into an associated groovein the compartment wall adjacent to the free, lateral end of the door inwhich projected position of the bolt the door is locked. Means are alsoprovide-d for maintaining the door in such locked position whichcomprise -a pivot pin, ia pivot bar loosely pivotally mounted on thepivot pin to permit movement in 'all directions, one end of the pivotbar being bottom-heavy and adapted to engage the lever arm by restingthereon in which position the other end of the pivot bar rests againstthe rear end of the bolt, when projected, thus precluding longitudinalmovement of the bolt and thereby maintaining the door in locked positionby holding the forward end of the bolt in said associated groove, thebottom-heavy end of the pivot bar being adapted to move downwardly whenthe lever arm is oscillated out of engagement therewith, means forarresting the downward movement of the bottom-heavy end of the pivot barbeing also included. The door is rendered openable when the timingdevice oscillates the lever arm at the preset time to disengage it fromthe said bottom-heavy end yof Ithe pivot bar causing the bottomheavy endto drop downwardly until it is halted by said arresting means, the otherend of the pivot bar simultaneously pivoting upwardly and out of contactwith the rear end of the projected bolt whereupon the bolt can beactivated to slide rearwardly and withdrawn from the associated groovethereby rendering the door openable. The timing device, lock mechanism,and means for maintaining the door in locked position are positionedwithin the compartment, preferably on the inner wall of the door.

The receptacle also includes a secondary release mechanism forexternally rendering the door openable in the event of mechanicalfailure of the timing device to oscillate the lever Aarm at the presettime to disengage tfhe lever arm from the bottom-heavy end of the pivotbar. This mechanism comprises an opening in the wall of the compartmentthrough which connnunioation may be effected with the lever arm andmeans associated with said opening adapted to disengage the lever armfrom the bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, resting thereon, whenactivated from outside the compartment, to cause the bottom-heavy end to:drop downwardly until halted by the arresting means, the other end ofthe pivot bar simultaneously pivoting upwardly and out of contact withthe rear end of the projected bolt whereupon the bolt can be activatedto slide rearwardly and withdrawn from said associated groove therebyrendering the door openable.

The receptacle is preferably .also provided with a slot in 4a Wall ofthe compartment through which valuables can be deposited into thecompantment at any time.

In the accompanying drawing which represents an embodiment of theinvention FIG. l is a front elevation 4of the receptacle with the dooropen;

FIG. 2 is ia cross-sectional elevation of the receptacle looking fromthe rear to the front with the door in locked position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the receptacle looking from therear to the front and depicting the secondary release mechanism in anunlocked position;

FIG. 4 is a View along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an `enlarged fragmentary detail view illustratin'g means `formaintaining the door in locked position, the door of the receptaclebeing in open position in this View;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view illustrating the means ofPEG. 5 in a cocked position just prior to locking the door; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view illustrating the means ofHG. 5 and FIG. 6 with the door in locked position.

Referring with particularly to the drawing, the receptacle comprises asealed compartment il having s-ide walls l2 and 13, top '14, botto-m 15,rear wall 16, and door 17, the door being pivotally attached to theforward end of side wall 12 by hinges I1b and i9. The receptacle ispreferably provided with la slot 292 in a Wall of the compartment, eg.,in door ll7, for depositing valuables therethrough into the compartmentat any time. When it is desired to utilize the receptacle as a mobilesafe, attached movable means, `such as rollers 21 and 22, are included.

A lock mechanism capable of bein-g set in a condition whereby the dooris locked is also provided. This lock mechanism comprises a conventionallatch-type lock 25, having a slidable bolt 26, mounted on the inner wallof the door iand supported by brackets 27 and 23. The lock can beactiv-ated, as for example, by a proper key 29, to oause the forward endof the bolt to slide forwardly to be projected into an associated grooveSii in the compartment wall adjacent to the free, lateral end of thedoor, that is, in wall i3, thereby to lock the door. When the forwardend of the bolt is held in this associated groove, the door ismaintained in locked position and cannot be opened. When the key 29 isable to activate the bolt so that it can slide rearwardly and withdrawnfrom the associated groove, the door is rendered ope-hable.

The receptacle also provides a timing device, such as time clock 35,mounted on the inner wall or" the door, and supported by brackets 36 and37. 'Il-he time clock carries a resilient lever arm 38, preferablyconstructed of resilient ymetal, and is adapted to be preset to aspecific time to cause the lever arm to oscillate at the preset time`and thereby render the door openable, as will be explained hereinafter.The time clock .35 is of the conventional alarm clock type utilizing 'alever arm to oscillate and strike a gong at the preset time for whichthe alarm was set, ltand has been modied for use in the instantinvention by eliminating the gong.

Means are also provided for maintaining the door in the locked positiondescribed above. Such means, illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, comprise apivot pin 4t), mounted on the inner wall of the door and positioned be-Vtween the lever arm 38 and the rear end of bolt 26, and a pivot bar 41,pivotally mounted on the pivot pin in a loose manner so as to permitmovement or some slight play of the pivot bar in all directions asrequired for its functions. Preferably, pivot pin 4d is set in a slot inpivot bar 41 at an angle of about from 10 to the horizontal, as shown inFIGS. 5, 6, and 7, thereby permitting the pivot bar to move upwardly,downwardly, and slightly to the right as desired. One end 42 of thepivot bar is bottom-heavy and is adapted to engage the lever arm byresting thereon in which position the other, light end 43 of the pivotbar rests against the rear end of the bolt when in projected positionthus preciuding longitudinal movement of the bolt and therebymaintaining the door in locked position by holding the forward end ofthe bolt in associated groove 30. The bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivotbar is adapted to move downwardly when the lever arm is oscillated outof engagement therewith. Means are also included for arresting thedownward movement of the bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivot bar, such asstop 44, which is mounted on the inner wall of the door and positionedbetween pivot pin 40 and lever arm 38. The door is rendered openablewhen the timing device oscillates the lever arm at the preset time todisengage it from the bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivot bar causing thebottom-heavy end to drop downwardly until it is halted by stop 44, theother end of the pivot bar (end 43) simultaneously pivoting upwardly andout of contact with the rear end of the projected bolt whereupon thebolt can be activated by key 29 to slide rearwardly and withdrawn fromassociated groove thus rendering the door openable. It is opened bypulling handle 45.

When it is desired to set the receptacle from the open door position ofFIGS. 1 and 5 to the corresponding locked positions of FIGS. 2 and 7,the time clock 35 is manually adjusted to the desired preset time atwhich the lever arm is to oscillate, and the pivot bar, because of itsloose positioning on the pivot pin, is raised above the highest point towhich the lever arm would reach when erect. The lever arm is thenmanually adjusted to a substantially erect position parallel to sidewalls 12 and 13 and the pivot bar then manually adjusted so that itsheavy end 42 rests on the top of the lever arm while its light end 43rests on the upper surface of the retracted bolt, as shown in FIG. 6.The door, by virtue of this cocked position of the pivot bar, is nowready to be locked, and maintained in such locked position. The door isthen closed and key 29 inserted into lock 25 and turned thereinwhereupon bolt 26 is projected into associated groove 30 locking thedoor. Simultaneously therewith, as bolt 26 slides out from under thelight end 43 into its projected position, the said light end 43 dropsuntil arrested by restraining pin 46 so that the pivot bar assumes thepositions shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, that is, the light end 43 restsagainst the rear end of the bolt in its projected position thusprecluding longitudinal movement of the bolt and thereby maintaining thedoor in locked position by holding the forward end of the bolt inassociated groove 3i). The door is rendered openable when the timingdevice oscillates the lever arm at the preset time to disengage it fromthe bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivot bar, as described above.

Although the timing device (time clock the lock mechanism (bolt 26etc.), and the means for maintaining the door in locked condition (pivotpin 40, pivot bar 41, etc.) have been described as being mounted on thedoor, which is the preferred construction, they may be positioned withinthe compartment in various ways, the only requirement being that they beassociated with the door in such a manner that the door is renderedopenable when the time clock oscillates the lever arm at the presettime.

The receptacle further provides a secondary release mechanism forexternally rendering the door openable in the event of mechanicalfailure of the timing device to oscillate the lever arm at the presettime to disengage the lever arm from the bottom-heavy end 42 of thepivot bar. This secondary release mechanism comprises an opening in thewall of the compartment, as, for example, aperture 5t) in wall 12,through which communication may be effected with the lever arm, andmeans associated with aperture 50 adapted to disengage the lever armfrom the bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, resting thereon, whenactivated by external means from outside the compartment to cause thebottom-heavy end to drop downwardly until halted by the arresting means,e.g., stop 44, the other end 43 of the pivot bar simultaneously pivotingupwardly and out of contact with the rear end of the projected boltwhereupon the bolt can be activated to slide rearwardly and withdrawnfrom the associated groove 39 thereby rendering the door openable.

The means associated with aperture 50 comprise a pull action lock 51having a frontwardly-moving pullbolt 52 with a sharp pull action whenactivated, mounted on the inner wall of the door, supported thereon bybrackets 53 and 54, and positioned near the end of the door opposite thefree, lateral end thereof. The lock 51 is provided with a keyhole, notshown, with which communication is effected through aperture 50, andwhich is adapted to receive a key 55 through aperture 50, which, whenapplied thereto, e.g., turned therein, will activate the pullbolt 52causing it to move frontwardly with a sharp pull action. A pullrod 56 isalso included, one end of which is attached to the rear of pulibolt 52and the other end of which is positioned relative to the lever arm,e.g., hooked around the lever arm. so that the pull action of thepullbolt, when activated, will also pull the lever arm frontwardly todisengage it from the bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivot bar, restingthereon, to render the door openable as described above.

In the operation of the secondary release mechanism, key 55, fromoutside the compartment, is inserted through aperture 5t) into thekeyhole of lock 51. As the key is applied, e.g., turned therein,pullbolt 52 is released with a frontwardly-moving sharp pull actionsimultaneously pulling the attached pullrod 56 in the samefrontwardlymoving direction causing it to disengage the resilient leverarm 38 from the bottom-heavy end 42 of the pivot bar 41 which thereupondrops downwardly until arrested by stop 44. As the bottom-heavy endmoves downwardly, the light end 43 moves upwardly so that the projectedbolt can now be activated by key 29 to slide rearwardly and withdrawnfrom associated groove 30 to render the door openable. The pullbolt 52may then be moved back to the position it occupied before beingactivated by key 55 and this key then removed from the keyhole. The dooris now openable and can be opened by pulling handle 45.

Although the means associated with the aperture 50 have been describedas being mounted on the door within the compartment, it is apparent thatthey may be mounted in many equivalent positions either inside oroutside the compartment. Thus, for example, the pull action lock 51 mayreadily be positioned within aperture 5t) rather 'than on the door.Also, while the said associated means have been depicted as a pullaction lock and pullrod, it is believed apparent that many otherstructures utilizing pull chains, push rods, etc., for disengaging thelever arm from the bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, resting thereon,are conceivable. The only criteria for the said associated means is thatthey be adapted to disengage the lever arm from the bottom-heavy end ofthe pivot bar.

It is contemplated that the key of the secondary release mechanism, thatis, key 55, will be kept in the custody of a special agent who is notlocated on the premises where the receptacle is to be kept. Such anarrangement will, it is believed, serve to minimize those types ofburglaries and robberies in which the felon attempts to force someone onthe premises to open the receptacle. Since the knowledge that thereceptacle cannot be opened until the preset time and that the secondaryrelease mechanism cannot be activated since the key 55 is not on thepremises, will be available to the public, such knowledge should serveas a deterrent for would-be-felons who-might otherwise be inclined toforce the owner, or other persons on the premises, to open thereceptacle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A receptacle for holding valuables comprising a sealed compartmenthaving walls and having an openable door with a free, lateral end, atiming device carrying a resilient lever arm and being adapted to bepreset to a specific time to cause the lever arm to oscillate at theprefset time, a lock mechanism capable of being set in a conditionwhereby the door is locked and comprising a slidable bolt the forwardend of which is projectable into an associated groove in the compartmentwall adjacent to the free, lateral end of the door in which projectedposition of the bolt the door is locked, means for maintaining the doorin such locked position comprising a pivot pin, a pivot bar looselypivotally mounted on said pivot pin to permit movement in alldirections, and a restraining pin, one end of said pivot bar beingbottom-heavy and adapted to engage said lever arm by resting thereon inwhich position the other end of said pivot bar is restrained fromdownward movement by said restraining pin and rests against the rear endof said bolt when projected thus precluding longitudinal movement of thebolt and thereby maintaining the door in locked position by holding theforward end of the bolt in said associated groove, said bottom-heavy endbeing adapted to move downwardly when said lever arm is oseillated outof engagement therewith, and means for arresting the downward movementof said bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, said door being renderedopenable when the timing devioe oscillates the lever arm at the presettime to disengage it from said bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar causingsaid bottomheavy end to drop downwardly until it is halted by saidarresting means, the other end of the pivot bar simultaneously pivotingupwardly and out of contact with the restraining pin and the rear end ofthe projected bolt whereupon the bolt can be activated to sliderearwardly and withdrawn from said associated groove thereby renderingthe door openable, said timing device, bolt, and means for maintainingthe door in locked position being positioned within the compartment, anda secondary release mechanism for externally rendering the door openablein the event of mechanical failure of the timing device to oscillate thelever arm at the preset time to disengage said lever arm from saidbottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, comprising an opening in the wall ofthe compartment through which communication may be eiected with saidlever arm and means associated with said opening adapted to disengagesaid lever arm from said bottomheavy end of the pivot bar, restingthereon, when activated from outside the compartment to cause saidbottomheavy end to drop downwardly until halted by said arresting means,the other end of the pivot bar simultaneously pivoting upwardly and outof contact with the restraining pin and the rear end of the projectedbolt whereupon the bolt can be activated to slide rearwardly andwithdrawn from said associated groove thereby rendering the dooropenable.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the means of the secondary releasemechanism comprises a lock associated with said opening having afrontwardly-moving pullbolt with a sharp pull action when activated, apullrod one end of which is attached to said pullbolt and the other endof which is positioned relative to the lever arm so that the pull actionof the pullbolt, when activated, will pull the lever arm frontwardly todisengage it from said bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar restingthereon.

3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the means of the secondary releasemechanism comprises a lock associated with said opening having afrontwardly-moving pullbolt with a sharp pull action when activated,mounted on the inner wall of the door and positioned near the end of thedoor opposite the free, lateral end thereof, said lock being providedwith a keyhole adapted to receive a key which, when applied thereto,will activate the pullbolt, and a pullrod one end of which is attachedto the rear of said pullbolt and the other end of which is hooked aroundsaid lever arm and being capable of pulling said lever arm out ofengagement with said bottom-heavy end of the pivot bar, resting thereon,when the pullbolt is activated.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 187,055Sherar Feb. 6, 1877 215,777 Shaw May 27, 1879 493,115 Rees Mar. 7, 1893496,241 Woodward Apr. 25, 1893

1. A RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING VALUABLES COMPRISING A SEALED COMPARTMENTHAVING WALLS AND HAVING AN OPENABLE DOOR WITH A FREE, LATERAL END, ATIMING DEVICE CARRYING A RESILIENT LEVER ARM AND BEING ADAPTED TO BEPRESET TO A SPECIFIC TIME TO CAUSE THE LEVER ARM TO OSCILLATE AT THEPRESET TIME, A LOCK MECHANISM CAPABLE OF BEING SET IN A CONDITIONWHEREBY THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND COMPRISING A SLIDABLE BOLT THE FORWARDEND OF WHICH IS PROJECTABLE INTO AN ASSOCIATED GROOVE IN THE COMPARTMENTWALL ADJACENT TO THE FREE, LATERAL END OF THE DOOR IN WHICH PROJECTEDPOSITION OF THE BOLT THE DOOR IS LOCKED, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE DOORIN SUCH LOCKED POSITION COMPRISING A PIVOT PIN, A PIVOT BAR LOOSELYPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT PIN TO PERMIT MOVEMENT IN ALLDIRECTIONS, AND A RESTRAINING PIN, ONE END OF SAID PIVOT BAR BEINGBOTTOM-HEAVY AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID LEVER ARM BY RESTING THEREON INWHICH POSITION THE OTHER END OF SAID PIVOT BAR IS RESTRAINED FROMDOWNWARD MOVEMENT BY SAID RESTRAINING PIN AND RESTS AGAINST THE REAR ENDOF SAID BOLT WHEN PROJECTED THUS PRECLUDING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THEBOLT AND THEREBY MAINTAINING THE DOOR IN LOCKED POSITION BY HOLDING THEFORWARD END OF THE BOLT IN SAID ASSOCIATED GROOVE, SAID BOTTOM-HEAVY ENDBEING ADAPTED TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY WHEN SAID LEVER ARM IS OSCILLATED OUTOF ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, AND MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENTOF SAID BOTTOM-HEAVY END OF THE PIVOT BAR, SAID DOOR BEING RENDEREDOPENABLE WHEN THE TIMING DEVICE OSCILLATES THE LEVER ARM AT THE PRESETTIME TO DISENGAGE IT FROM SAID BOTTOM-HEAVY END OF THE PIVOT BAR CAUSINGSAID BOTTOMHEAVY END TO DROP DOWNWARDLY UNTIL IT IS HALTED BY SAIDARRESTING MEANS, THE OTHER END OF THE PIVOT BAR SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOTINGUPWARDLY AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE RESTRAINING PIN AND THE REAR END OFTHE PROJECTED BOLT WHEREUPON THE BOLT CAN BE ACTIVATED TO SLIDEREARWARDLY AND WITHDRAWN FROM SAID ASSOCIATED GROOVE THEREBY RENDERINGTHE DOOR OPENABLE, SAID TIMING DEVICE, BOLT, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAININGTHE DOOR IN LOCKED POSITION BEING POSITIONED WITHIN THE COMPARTMENT, ANDA SECONDARY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR EXTERNALLY RENDERING THE DOOR OPENABLEIN THE EVENT OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE TIMING DEVICE TO OSCILLATE THELEVER ARM AT THE PRESET TIME TO DISENGAGE SAID LEVER ARM FROM SAIDBOTTOM-HEAVY END OF THE PIVOT BAR, COMPRISING AN OPENING IN THE WALL OFTHE COMPARTMENT THROUGH WHICH COMMUNICATION MAY BE EFFECTED WITH SAIDLEVER ARM AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OPENING ADAPTED TO DISENGAGESAID LEVER ARM FROM SAID BOTTOMHEAVY END OF THE PIVOT BAR, RESTINGTHEREON, WHEN ACTIVATED FROM OUTSIDE THE COMPARTMENT TO CAUSE SAIDBOTTOMHEAVY END TO DROP DOWNWARDLY UNTIL HALTED BY SAID ARRESTING MEANS,THE OTHER END OF THE PIVOT BAR SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOTING UPWARDLY AND OUTOF CONTACT WITH THE RESTRAINING PIN AND THE REAR END OF THE PROJECTEDBOLT WHEREUPON THE BOLT CAN BE ACTIVATED TO SLIDE REARWARDLY ANDWITHDRAWN FROM SAID ASSOCIATED GROOVE THEREBY RENDERING THE DOOROPENABLE.